Humidifier system



Feb. 26, 1946. H. L. GALSON HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

HENY- GALSON ATTORNEY.

H. 1.. GALSON I 2,395,660

HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM Feb. 26, 1946.

Filed Dec. 22, 1941 '2 Sheets- Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR.

HENRY GALSON ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 26, 1946 HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM HenryL. Galson, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Car- .rier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 423,963

4 Claims.

This inventionrelates to industrial humidifier units, more particularly those adapted for use in textile mills,- and other plants where control of atmospheric moisture content is of primary importance.

The general object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, economical and emcient unit which may be installed in a minimum of space and yet be capable of servingrelatively large areas.

The principal features of the unit, intended to achieve correlated humidification and temperature control, and eliminate the disadvantages attendant the employment of existing systems utilizing atomizing or spray heads or the like positioned directly in the conditioned area above the operating machinery therein, include the following structural and operating advantages: a

1. The provision of an assembly consisting of three sections, which may easily be hung at the ceiling level either within or remote from the ment for assuring the admission of return air properly filtered, the lint and dust removing elements being readily accessible for cleaning and servicing.

4. The provision of a novel arrangement of hlumidifying packs assuring presentation of a maximum wetted surface to a stream of 'air to be conditioned, so that maximum evaporative cooling will take place.

5. The provision of a novel liquid supply arrangement for wetting the packs, in combination with a simple arrangement for confining the air within a defined course so that bypassin will be efiectivel prevented.

6. The provision of a series of cooperating drain pans which serve not only to remove overflow, drip and condensate, but also provide effective seals preventing intaking of undesirable air.

7. The provision of a novel fan discharge section for delivering air in desired volumes and with proper directional effect. v

8'. The provision of simple means providing access to a series of humidifier packs which may readily be replaced, yet snugly fitted in operating position.

9. The provision of a simple control arrangement for regulating temperature and humidity, yet preventing excessive humidity under conditions where the temperature is within desired limits, and preventing undesirable temperature conditions even though humidity conditions are within desired limits.

These and other advantages will be more apparent from the following description of one form of applicants invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Fig. l is an exploded view, principally in perspective, of the air intake, humidifier and fan sections, comprising the unit assembly;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, in diagrammatic form, showing the three sections assembled;

Fig. '3 is a diagrammatic view of the water distributing pan, perforations in the pan being shown;

Fig. 4 is a section through the pan showing also a lid adapted to be placed thereover;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary showing of a portion of the lint and dust removing element through which .return air is routed;

Fig. 6 'is a diagrammatic fragmentary view of the arrangement for securing the packsin place;

Fig. '7 shows diagrammatically, in fragmentary form, the manner of mounting the pan assembly on the humidifier section;

Fig. 8 shows the cooperative relationship of the pans serving the various sections; and

Fig. 9 is a control diagram illustrating how the operation of the unit may be regulated.

Considering the drawings, similardesginations referring to similar parts, numeral 8, as more particularly shown in Fig. 1, represents an exploded assembly of applicants industrial humidifier unit, comprising three principal sections. Air intakesection 9 is adapted to be connected to humidifier section l0 which in turn connects with fan and air distribution section II.

Considering first the air intake section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a casing I 2 suitably constructed'of sheet metal or'thelike, has airintake I 3 at one end thereof. The intake may be provided with a flanged portion i l to which a duct may be connected leading to any desired source of air supply, either outdoors or otherwise. At each side of the casing is a return air opening 15 which, in practice, may be suitably connected by ducts to specified points in the indus trial area served by the unit from which'it is 'desired to withdraw air for reconditioning. Each return air opening has mounted on the intake 2 2,395,680 side thereof a int and dust rem vi element It. result is that the packs are somewhat lifted and This may be attached by bolts r screws to the casing or may be slid into guide channels and suitably held in position by clips or other means. The construction of element I6 is shown in detail in Fig. 5. In general, a perforated metal sheet is crimped or conformed to assume the shape shown in Fig. 5, consisting of a series of integral corrugations, the edges on one side being substantially in the form of V's whereas on the other side the appearance is substantially that of a series of V troughs. The V's are positioned on the outside, as illustrated, first to meet the flow of air, whereas the troughs are closer to the casing, better to catch lint, dust and other impurities carried by the air. Perforations l1, provided throughout element It, arelarge enough to allow the air to pass through without providing excessive resistance, while small enough to serve as an eiiicient accumulator of lint, dust and other impurities. While the accumulation of such lint and impurities will in a measure serve to increase resistance to the flow of air through element IE, it is found in practice that the perforations will not become wholly clogged. In eif'ect,-the thickness of accumulation will increase but the resistance factor will not increase in proportion.

The air intake is providedwith a damper 18 preferably consisting of two curved segments adapted'to-pivot about axes I9, 20 as best shown in Fig. 2. Damper mechanism 2| comprises an arrangement of levers, as shown in Fig. l, for rotating the damper segments so that in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, no outside air will be drawn within the unit, but only return air intaken through elements 16. As shown in Fig. 2, when the segments are in dotted line position, then the air drawn into the unit will only be outside air, with the paths to return air closed. Depending upon the control, which may be either snugly held at their upper ends.

The packs themselves consist of retaining frames 29 made of expanded metal or the like held with a hygroscopic water absorbent material, such as aspen wood wool, which may be chemically treated as desired, and which presents in the aggregate, an exceedingly large wetted-surface. Because of the filamentous nature of the material, and the fact that the liquid used for wetting the fibers continuously runs off, the resistance factor presented by the wetted pack to the passage of air is not excessive. While applicant prefers to employ a hygroscopic material, it is to be understood that glass fibers, metallic formations, or any other suitable means may be employed capable of presenting a large wetted surface on which air may be impinged to effect efficient humidification or liquid absorption.

Superposed upon casing 23 is water distributing pan 30. This is preferably rectangular in conformation, formed with four retaining sides on which a lid 3! may be positioned. The bottom of the distributing pan, as best shown in Fig. 3, has a plurality of perforations 32 so arranged that the perforations are in alignment with the packs 22 positioned beneath the pan. In effect, the pan is directly above and in contact with the packs so that water passing through perforations 32 goes directly into the packs with substantially no space existing between the bottom of the pan and the top of the packs. Thus, bypassing of air over the packs is effectively prevented to the same degree as is bypassing of air at the bottom prevented by use of the confining elements 25. Wa-

ter from any suitable source is admitted to the pan through inlet 33. The water quickly distributes itself over the whole of the pan except that weirs 34' and 35 will not admit water to the sections of the pan 36 and 37 respectively until the manual or automatic, any desired proportion of outside and return air may be drawn within the unit.

It will be noted that in Fig. 1 theunit is shown with the air intake section to the right, whereas in Fig. 2 this section is to the left, the object being to indicate that the unit may bearranged for air flow in either direction.

Considering humidifier Section 10, a series of humidifier packs 22 are placed vertically within casing 23 in a series of V formations. The casing is suitably constructed of sheet metal or the like and has at its ends a plurality of channel tracks 24 within which packs 22 will be slideably fitted. The packs are substantially the full height of the casing. However, in order that all air routed through the unit be assured of con clamp- 26. may "be pivoted intdthe cross-wise position shown in Fig. 2 toh'old' the'packs in place. By rotating clamp 28 into lengthwise position, with respect'to' the direction of air flow,

it will be apparent that the packs may then be readily slid out from the casing.

' As shown in Fig. 6, the clamp 26 is part of an assembly including guide rod 21 and spring 28. The spring has-a tendency to hold the clamp 26 flrmlyagainst the bottom of packs 22 and the level of the water in the pan rises above the inlet openings in the weirs. By controlling the rate of admission of water through inlet 33, the level in the pan'proper may be controlled and if it is desired to wet the packs served by pan sections 36 and 31, the rate is increased so that the water flows beyond the weirs. The openings in the weirs maybe in the nature of holes, or may be triangular notches at the upper surface or the weirs may simply be barriers whose upper edges are differently spaced from the bottom of the pan. An overflow 38 provided in the pan proper, leads to a drain pan 39 from which the excess water may suitably be removed for recirculation or wasted.

Attached to drain pan 39, by means of screws 40, is condesate disposal pan 4!. A spacer bar 42 is positioned between the sides of drain pan 39 and condensate disposal pan 4|. As illustrated in Fig. 8, water from both drain pans is discharged at a single point from the unit. Lips 43 are pitched so that condensate forming on the outer surface of the drain pan will precipitate into the condensate disposal pan. This will take place whenever the temperature of the surface is below that of the dewpoint of the air impinging there- I The spacer bars 42 are so mounted that rollers or wheels 44 are retained by bolts 45 acting in the nature of shafts on which the rollers are mounted; but due to'the spacing employed, the pans are sumciently spaced from the bottom of the casing. The reason for this arrangement is that by easy manipulation the pans which form a movable assembly may be moved by having the rollers glide upon tracks 45 and this afiords easy access to the bottom of casing 23 for inspection, repair, or removal of packs. Thus, it will be seen that the rollers really form supports for the pan assembly.

At the discharge side of the humidifier section is positioned a re-heater 41 to which-heated fluid or steam may be admitted through valve 63.

The third section of the apparatus is fan section 49 comprising a sheet metal casing or the like having two inclined discharge openings 50. Integral with the casing is a recessed portion having sufficiently heavy side mounting pieces for suitably retaining motor 52 to which fan 53 is directly connected by a common shaft 54. Orifice plate 55 is also integral with the casing and employed in the usual manner. The openings 50 may be equipped with grilles or outlets having horizontal, vertical, or a combination of horizontal and vertical fans for regulating the volume and direction of air discharged from the unit.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the air intake and fan sections are also provided with condensate disposal pans 56 and 51 respectively, and when the sections are bolted together, the condensate from these two end sections will feed into pan 39.

As shown in Figs. 1, 8, the section containing pans 39 and 4| may be moved beneath the air intake section, as hereinbefore pointed out, when it is desired to service the humidifier section, and when it is slid back into normal position, the four pans are in cooperative assembly with ,pan 39 abutting against stops 58 as shown which form air seals to prevent air being drawn into the unit at these points.

The unit in assembled condition is suitably affixed to angle irons 59 normally attached to wall or ceiling structures of the enclosure wherein the unit is to be positioned.

In operation, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 9, th unit will be controlled as follows:

Hygrostat 66 controls water valve 6| so that as greater humidification is desired, the valve will be opened to a greater degree, and vice-versa. Thermostat 62 is arranged to control steam valve 63 so that as lower temperatures are required the steam supply will first be reduced, then completely shut off; and if the temperature in the enclosure is still above the desired point, the thermostat will act through direct acting or advance relay 64 and through limitstat 65 to cause damper motor 66 gradually to open the normally closed outside air dampers l8, Reverse acting relay 61 controls the air pressure governing valve 63 so that when a drop in dry bulb temperature is required, the air pressure will gradually be restricted withthe result that the valve will gradually close. Numeral 68 designates the control air pressure gauges indicating the response to action of controls upon the air pressure serving the respective lines leading thereto.

While thermostat 62, as before described, normally controls the position of dampers l8 through the operation of damper motor 66, this will be countermanded if the humidity condition of the outside air is so great as to increase the humidity condition within the conditioned enclosure, beyond a desired maximum. The hygrostat 60 will respond to the raising of the relative humidity within the enclosure beyond said point and working through relay 64, will cause a drop in air pressure leading to damper motor 66 with the result that the normally closed dampers ill will assume a closed position and shut off the supply of outside air, the actlon being gradual. The result is that the hygrostat in combination with the advance or direct acting relay 64 acts as a supercontrol, assuming command of the position of the outside air dampers when the humidity becomes excessive, even though the temperature control may call for the admission of outside air.

When the outside air is such that its admission would cause undesirable cold or drafty conditions, limitstat will respond to the drop in outside temperature and cause a bleeding or loss of air pressure from the line serving damper motor 66 with the result that the dampers It will assume their normally closed position and cut oil gradually the supply of outside air. In practice, limitstat 65 is positioned in the humidifier section between the packs and re-heater, so that it accurately reflects the approximate dewpoint of the air being discharged from the humidifier packs.

Therefore, limitstat 65 serves in the nature oi. a

dewpoint control which corrects a cold condition resulting from a drop below a desired minimum dewpoint.

Under conditions requiring greater humidification than may be obtained by supply of unheated water, a heating element, or steam supply, or other suitable means may be provided so that the water fed to the packs will be at a desired elevated temperature.

It will be observed that the control system is so arranged that the arrangement to the left of the broken lines shown in Fig. 9 may conveniently be grouped on a single control panel adapted to serve a plurality of units each of which would merely be equipped with the control elements shown to the right of the broken line.

Since many changes may be made in the invention without departing from the scope thereof,

it is intended that all matter set forth in the foregoing description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, be regarded as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An industrial humidifier including an air intake section, a humidifier section, a fan section, a drain pan disposed at the bottom of the humidifier section adapted to receive excess water, a condensate disposal pan disposed beneath said drain pan having lips to receive condensate forming on the outer surface of said drain pan, means securing said condensate disposal pan to said drain pan, a drip pan at the bottom of the air intake section, a second drip pan at the bottom of the fan section, stops on said first and second drip pans, said drain pan in normal position abutting said stops to prevent substantial inleakage of air at points of abutment, said first and second drip pans being disposed to drain into said drain pan, means for securing the drain and condensate disposal pans in removable position, and track means for supporting said humidifier pans for movement beneath said air intake section when it is desired to service said humidifier section.

2. An industrial humidifier including an air intake section having a front opening for admitting fresh air and a side opening for admitting return air, means for closing said openings, said jacent Vs positioned in such manner that the,

return air first strikes the V's and then passes through the troughs, said troughs having a plurality o1 openingstherein in the form of closely spaced perforations.

l 3. An industrial humidifier including an air moistening section, a pan at the upper part of said section, said pan being horizontally positioned and having perforations therein disposed in a plurality of V-shaped patterns extending from one side of the pan to the other, a plurality of air moistening packs positioned within the section, adjacent pairs of said packs forming a V- shaped pattern with the upper edges: of the packs abutting the underside of the pan in registration with said V-shaped patterns of perforations, means for feeding water into the pan, the water in said pan flowing through the perforations and down through the packs therebeneath, and means for routing air through the packs in a course parallel to the plane of the pan and transverse to the planes of the faces of the packs.

4. An industrial humidifier including an air moistening section, a pan at the upper part of such section, said-pan being horizontally posi tioned and having perforations therein disposed in a plurality of v-shaped patterns extending from one side of the pan to the other,'a plurality of air moistening packs positioned within the section with the upper sides of the packs abutting the under side of the pan in registration with aid V-shaped patterns of perforations, means for slidably positioning said packs within said section so that adjacent pairs of packs form a V- shaped pattern with the sides of said V-shaped pattern extending from the perforated pan substantially to the bottom of the section, air confining elements removably positioned between adjacent packs proximate the bottom thereof, means for feeding water into the pan so that the water will flow through the perforations and down through the packs therebeneath, and means for routing air through the packs in a course parallel to the plane of the pan and transverse to the planes of the faces of the packs.

HENRY L. GALSON. 

